by Whitey | Nov 29, 2009 | Weekly Re-Cap
… But then again, to my mind, Sunday feels like the end of the week anyway. Anyway, here’s some highlights and stuff from the past week:
1. We had both a wedding and a funeral at our church.
2. I spent some extra time studying, in an attempt to get caught up.
3. I started the process of packing up my room. My book shelves look sad when they’re so empty…
4. I helped decorate the church for Christmas yesterday.
5. I taught my second-to-last English class this afternoon at church.
This week looks to be very busy. I’ve got 2 more Japanese classes, a Christmas event next Sunday to prepare for, as well as continuing to pack my room up and prepare for home ministries. Of course there are lots of people to try to connect with this week and next before leaving. Prayers during this transition time are much appreciated.
by Whitey | Nov 22, 2009 | Weekly Re-Cap
Here’s a run-down of some highlights from the past week-ish…
1. Last Sunday I played guitar on the worship team, did a couple of solos and gave a short testimony in Japanese, all in the AM service here in Nagoya. Also had a good meeting to talk about the upcoming Christmas event I’m organizing. Then there was a young adult thing in the evening, where there was a lot of good food, as usual.
2. Monday I went to Tokyo and back for a meeting with representatives of our 3-way missions partnership in Japan.
3. I’ve been meeting once a week with a couple of guys from the church to work on their English. It’s pretty informal, but we usually do a short Bible study in English and then just practice speaking. This week’s “lesson” somehow ended up consisting mostly of watching Godzilla on DVD. I did get them to interpret it for me. I’m not sure it helped their English much but it was rather entertaining anyway.
4. Much of the rest of the week was spent in Japanese studies, as well as preparations for the Christmas event and for home ministries. I may have said this last week, but it’s getting pretty hard to keep up with my studies these days, what with all the extra stuff on my plate. This week I’m going to try to focus more on my studies and less on the other stuff, if possible.
5. The weekend was busy because of a wedding at our church. I helped out with some preparations yesterday, and the wedding itself was this afternoon. It was a great celebration, and a good time of coming together as a community. I’ve enjoyed spending a lot of extra time with my church Family lately, which with only 3 weeks left is something I don’t want to take for granted.
And that’s a wrap. I predict an early bedtime after such a full and fun but tiring day.
by Whitey | Nov 13, 2009 | Weekly Re-Cap
This week…
1. On Sunday I preached at the Gifu Immanuel Church. I’ve been there a few times and this was my last Sunday with them before returning to Canada. So we had lunch together, and I received some farewell gifts and many kind words.
2. Returning to Nagoya, we had band practice for this coming Sunday’s worship time, and I got to enjoy spending time with my home church friends.
3. I had a pretty productive week, catching up on some of my missions internship work, home ministry prep, and preliminary plans for the Christmas event I’m hosting in early December.
4. I met up for dinner the other night with a bunch of other ex-pat Christians. It was fun and refreshing, and the food was good too. (Can you say “Old Spaghetti Factory”?)
5. I met with my pastor today to talk about my future in Japan. I’m super thankful he has a good sense of humor, and is so patient with my very limited Japanese. Many things were discussed, and I’m looking forward to working together in the years to come, as God allows.
6. I’ve been enjoying my new Japanese class, too, though with all the other stuff on my plate, it’s hard to keep up, even though the class is only part-time.
This coming week, Sunday will be super busy with ministry, and then I’m off to Tokyo on Monday for an important meeting with the Immanuel Wesleyan Federation (our 3-way church/missions partnership in Japan). Then it’ll be back to Nagoya for the “normal” (whatever that means) study and ministry related stuff.
Also: I’m scheduled to return to Canada one month from tomorrow! Crazy.
Prayers are much appreciated during this busy season of ministry and transition.
And that’s a wrap for this week.
by Whitey | Nov 7, 2009 | Weekly Re-Cap
This week…
1. I preached and did some music in Hikone on Sunday. See prayer letter (posted a couple days ago) for more on that.
2. I volunteered at the Watoto concerts here in Nagoya. Great day.
3. I started preparing for home ministries, beginning to contact churches to book speaking dates.
4. I studied — of course.
5. Had a good chat last night with my friend who shares the same vision for ministry through manga.
6. Enjoyed spending some time with Japanese friends from my church. In fact, after getting back from Hikone it was nice to sit down with the few who were still here and just relax and chat. It’s good to have that “coming home” feeling here. Earlier today we had a good prayer meeting with the young adults, too. I love these people.
7. I also sent out a prayer letter, and posted it and a bunch of pics to the blog (again, see the previous couple of posts for that). So I guess there’s not too much else to say…
Tomorrow (Sunday morning) I’m preaching and doing some music in Gifu. Prayers would be appreciated!
And that’s a wrap.
by Whitey | Nov 4, 2009 | Ministry News
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your prayers for me during this season of ministry. The young adults retreat in October went really well, and I had a good time ministering in music and testimony in Japanese at the Immanuel Toyota Church a couple of weeks ago, too.
This past weekend I visited the town of Hikone, about 1 1/2 hours by car from here, to do some preaching and music ministry at the Immanuel Church there. The former assistant pastor of the Nagoya Church is now pastoring there, so it was great to have the excuse to visit and catch up with him one last time before I return to Canada next month.
The message I preached on Sunday was called “The Heart of Worship”, and was about what true, authentic worship looks like. We didn’t plan it this way, but Pastor Hirase told me that this message was really well-timed, and that it went along with the series of messages he has been preaching there.
It was well-timed for me, personally, as well. It can be so easy to go through the motions on a Sunday morning, especially since my church is Japanese and I only understand half of what is said. It can be easy, too, in the busyness of life, to rush through my devotional time and not really worship God on my own. So preparing for and preaching this message was a good reminder for me to stay focused on God and really worship Him, both on Sundays and in my daily life.
So I’m thankful this week for the way God is using me, and for the things He’s teaching me along the way. And I’m thankful for you, my supporters, for helping to make this possible.
Please pray with me for the following:
– For my ministry: I’m preaching & singing again this coming Sunday (Nov. 8) in Gifu City. The following week (Nov. 15) I’m doing a testimony & song in Japanese at my own church in Nagoya.
– For my language studies & daily communication in Japanese.
– For the planning I’m doing now for home ministries & my next term in Japan.
On a related note, I need to start booking dates to speak at churches back in North America in the new year. If you are a pastor or missions director and interested in having me visit, please let me know.
Again, as always, thank you praying and giving! And remember, “Prayer is not preparation for the work. Prayer is the work.” (Oswald Chambers)
– robin
Note: The above photo was taken at Atzuchi Castle near Hikone. See the previous next post for more photos from recent events and travels.
by Whitey | Oct 30, 2009 | Weekly Re-Cap
It’s been a while, but maybe I should bring back the weekly re-cap… What do you think? Here we go… Some of the week’s happenings and thoughts, along with some things to come:
1. I got a new water heater today. Apparently my old one was death waiting to happen. My new water heater is much nicer. It’s shiny, it has more buttons… and it talks to me. Funny thing is, I’ve been in Japan long enough that that doesn’t really seem that odd to me.
2. Had a good time at the Toyota Church this past Sunday. Gave a testimony in Japanese, sang a couple of song, had a meal together with some Q & A, and as usual was treated with great Japanese hospitality.
3. Tomorrow I’m taking off to Hikone with a couple of friends. Our former assistant pastor — Hirase — is now pastoring there, and I’m scheduled to be the guest speaker / music guy on Sunday. Two friends from the Nagoya Church are coming with me, just for tomorrow, to join me in a visit with Hirase. Should be a good time.
4. Over at Doodze.com, my webcomic site, the final page of the first chapter of Doodze has been posted, along with a rather long and rambling reflection on the process of creating the comic thus far. If you’re a creative type, you might want to read that blog post. If not, it would still be cool if you read the comic. It’s less rambling.
Speaking being less rambling, I’m going to end this post now. That’s a wrap.
by Whitey | Oct 26, 2009 | Life in Japan, Ministry News, Uncategorized
With less than two months left of my first term in Japan, and a lot to keep me busy these days, it feels like time is getting away from me.
Yesterday I visited the Immanuel Church in Toyota (about an hour’s journey by train) to do some ministry. The next two Sundays I’ll be away too, in Hikone and then Gifu, again on ministry. In the meantime I’ve got messages to prepare for those two Sundays. I’m trying to decide what message(s) to use. Probably I will be doing an edited version of something I’ve already written, simply because of the time factor; I need to send a manuscript to my interpreters ASAP.
At any rate, I love having these ministry opportunities. But I kind of wish they weren’t happening all at once. I don’t like being away from my own church for so many consecutive weeks, especially with so few Sundays left between now and December 14th, the day of my flight home.
So I’ve got a lot to keep me busy these next few weeks, between ministry preparation, actual ministry, language studies, and home ministry planning. Somewhere in there I need to squeeze in time for spending with all the fine people I’ll be leaving behind in December. And drawing, too, of course.
I just want to finish strong: in studies, ministry and relationships. “Seize the day” and all that… I pray time won’t get away from me.
by Whitey | Oct 20, 2009 | Life in Japan, Photos
This probably isn’t technically one of my best photos, but I really like it because of the candid moment of smiles and laughter that it captures. Also: sweet view from a 5th floor window. On the left is one of my church friends, Maiko. On the right is Eric, a new friend who was visiting me in Nagoya this weekend.
The interesting thing about having someone from back in North America visit is that it gives me a fresh perspective on my life here. I’ve been in Japan long enough now that what once seemed strange now seems normal. It’s easy to forget how much I’ve learned. It’s easy to take stuff for granted. So it’s always refreshing to see it all through a newcomer’s eyes again.
This time I was reminded of just how fortunate I am to be living in such a beautiful and interesting place, and to have such a great community of Believers as my Family here. I am blessed. And I am grateful.
by Whitey | Oct 7, 2009 | Ministry News
My latest newsletter (#12 – Late 2009), wherein I talk about being a dreamer as well as my ministry at last week’s prayer meeting (which are related), is now available and can be viewed or downloaded in PDF form HERE. It also features a list of upcoming events that I’d appreciate prayers for. Thanks.
by Whitey | Sep 21, 2009 | Brain Dump
It’s a new day and a new week. It’s also a holiday week here in Japan, but despite that I’m not taking any vacation time or going anywhere. I have a big test on Thursday to prepare for — the final exam for the full-time language course I’ve been in these past 6 months — and these three days off are a perfect opportunity to put in some long hours of review. As I start my day, though, my mind is full of distracting thoughts, so I decided to come online and dump them out for all of your enjoyment…
1. Last week was a pretty busy study week, too, being the last week of the full-time course and full of tests. Glad it’s over. Also, did I mention that the part-time course I’m starting kind-of overlaps with the full-time class I’m finishing? Yeah. So after my interview test the other day I attended the first class of the part-time course, and then missed Friday’s part-time class because of a unit review test in the full-time course. And this week, after the final exam on Thursday, there’s no break because of the part-time course… which I’ll be behind on because of the full-time course. I’ll be looking forward to the weekend…
2. Speaking of weekends, this one was a good one. After last week’s busyness, it was nice to have a bit of a break. Friday night I did some drawing and watched a movie at home. Saturday I got to go to a concert in Gifu. It was not my normally preferred style — of a classical/gospel mix — but it was good nonetheless, and I got the ticket for free.
3. Yesterday was a really good day at church. I played guitar on the worship team in the morning, helped out with the youth Sunday school class, and then in the afternoon did my usual English class, which was well-attended and a lot of fun. Then in the evening, our church hosted an interdenominational missions prayer meeting / worship service. It was really great to see people from various churches getting together for a common purpose and vision, praying and worshiping together. Japan needs more of these.
4. One of the presenters last night talked about New Life League’s Manga Bible series. One of the artists who worked on this project was also there, and I got chat with her for a few minutes after the service. I’m pretty sure the first thing I said when I introduced myself (in Japanese) was “My name is Robin. I’m otaku (a geek).” I think she got a kick of that, and thinking back, it may have been an odd way to start a conversation; but it was a good way to get to the point of why I was talking to her. It was cool to meet her, though, to tell her that I think this is an important ministry, and say thanks.
5. Speaking of manga (for the uninitiated, that means comics), I’ve met some friends during this two-year term in Japan who share my vision for that kind of ministry. One particular friend and I have been dreaming together and exchanging ideas for over a year now. I’m pretty excited about where this is heading, and hopefully within a few months we can share something more specific…
6. Getting back to the subject of interdenominational gatherings in Japan, this week is the 5th Japan Conference on Evangelism, up in Hokkaido. If it wasn’t for this final exam, I’d be there for sure. This a rare nation-wide interdenominational event, and a great opportunity for our leaders to learn and grow together, network, and pray. If you are a pray-er, please pray for this important event.
I’d also appreciate your prayers for my studies this week — which, now that I’ve dumped my brain out, I should get started on…
